Saturday, June 27, 2015

The Pace Rival Crops have hit US lululemon stores in three colors - a Black/Gray Wee Space, a palm leaf stripe (the exact name is escaping me right now), and plain black. They each are a little different. The Black and Wee Space are luxtreme while the palm leaf stripe one is fullux:

Tag for the Palm Leaf Stripe Pace Rivals

Tag for Wee Space Pace Rivals

Tag for Black Pace Rivals

Though the black claims to be regular luxtreme, I swear the portion covering your backside is full on luxtreme since it was fully opaque on me - I couldn't even see the tag - and the color is a bit different looking than the side panels. I found the Wee Space the most comfortable of the three pairs. Wee Space luxtremes tend to be silky smooth, very light feeling, opaque, visually slimming, and provide camouflage for imperfections. The downside is they are not as compressive as full on luxtreme or even regular Power Luxtreme. However, my wee space run crops are the ones I reach for in the summer since the material feels lighter (i.e., less thick) than regular luxtreme and I love the buttery softness.

The mesh on the back of the leg is circle mesh and opaque.

I ended up going home with the Wee Space ones even though I don't 100% love the block of Grapefruit used at the bottom of the leg, locking me into pairing these crops primarily with oranges or black.

Front view of the Pace Rivals and Inspires

Back view of the Pace Rivals and Inspires

The Pace Rivals are a little longer than the Inspires - by 1/2" according to the website.

I also found the Pace Rivals had a little bit longer rise in both the front and back. My measurement from top of the waistband in the front to the top of the gusset was 9.5" on the Pace Rivals and 9.25" on the Inspire. For the back rise, I found the Pace Rivals to measure 11.5" and the Inspires 10.75". I thought the fit was TTS but if you are in-between sizes you can probably size down, especially in the Wee Space version.

Pace Rival thigh pocket.

My phone does not slide in easily in the narrow pocket.

The pocket is bonded into the crops.

The Pace Rivals also have two thigh pockets but I've got to say I was a bit disappointed with how narrow, tight, and shallow they are compared to the thigh pockets on the Speed Tights. I had a very hard time getting my iPhone 5S in its Lifeproof case into it. The pocket measures 2 5/8" across. I was hoping the pockets would be as roomy as the ones on the Speed Tights, which are 4.25" across:

Speed Tight Pocket - roomy and deep

Speed Tight pockets are sewn.

Normally I would just shove the phone in and forget it but the pocket is bonded into the crops, unlike the Speed Tights which are sewn on all sides, and that makes me doubt its durability if I over-stress the seam. Though the Speed Tight pockets tend to gap a little at the top they are super roomy. People are telling me they can fit their iPhone 6+ in the Pace Rival but a 6+ measure 3.06" across. The regular iPhone 6 is 2.64". I'm not sure why they made the pocket so narrow. I think it was probably to make them as low profile as possible in answer to people complaining about the Speed Tight pockets gaping. I don't know how functional the Pace Rival pockets will be. I can see using it for money or ID but as for being able to put something rather bulky in there like a phone in a sticky case or a packet of Gel Blox, I tend to think it'll be a little bit of a pain to use.UPDATE- A reader points out the pocket stretches across your thigh so you can get a larger iphone in and out but I did try using the pocket while wearing the crops in the dressing room and I had to work to get my phone in and out of the pocket. It's definitely something I'd have to pull over during a run to do, whereas in the Speed Tight it was no problem to pull my phone out on the move. If you have a grippy case on your phone like I do - a caseless iPhone 5S or smooth case will be much easier - you will have to wiggle it to get it in and out since the pocket lays super flat and snug on your thigh.

I dug up an old case-less iPhone 5S I had around my house to show how it fits in the pocket. This is just laying on my table.

This is how a case-less iPhone 5S fits on. It slid in very easily.

I have a pretty substantial case on my phone. The case brings the phone up fairly close to the dimensions of an iPhone 6, except it's a lot thicker. Here are the dimensions of the three kinds of iPhones:

5S (l x w x d): 4.87" x 2.31" x 0.3"

6: 5.44" x 2.64" x 0.27"

(5S in my case): 5.41" x 2.64" x 0.5"

6+: 6.22" x 3.06" 0.28"

My phone in its case - about the same height and width of an iPhone 6.

My initial review was probably too pessimistic about the usefulness of the thigh pockets for carrying a phone but I was expecting the pocket to be more like those in the Speed Tights. Like people said, a case-less iPhone 6+ will work, though it will stick out a bit more on top.

18 comments:

Kathy
said...

I am in between sizes, but because of the bonded pocket, I could not size down or it would pull across the thigh too much and was uncomfortable. I stayed with my TTS luxtreme crop size on this one. Brought home the wee stripe, the fabric was soft, and I agree that it feels lighter for summer. Was able to get an iPhone 6 in the back zip pocket, did not try the side pockets though!

My sympathies to anyone who went out to Wanderlust108 on Toronto Island yesterday in the torrential downpour and unceasing rain. (I did not go - didn't have a ticket and considered it last week, but saw the forecast for the weekend at 90% POP.) WHAT a disaster. A 5K run? It was an 8K run - they measured it based on miles. No shelter for participants, no covered baggage check and volunteers just telling people to grab their bags, which were soaked.

I appreciate people leaving their feedback because there is always so much hype around Wanderlust events, which, on a beautiful sunny day may be great. But I'm sorry - if you're saying it's rain or shine, you had better be prepared for rain, especially when the forecast is pretty much 100% rain. This was an event people paid up to $70 per ticket. Can't provide a tent(s) for up to 2000 people? (Their comeback.) Um yeah, they come that big. At minimum baggage check should have been covered so belongings and clothes to change into would be dry. It's not like it was the Nike 15K a couple of weeks ago where it would have been a challenge to provide tenting for 10,000 runners. We got rained on too although it eventually stopped. That event, however, was extremely organized (expect no less from Nike). My only complaint is that the race should have started at 8:00 and not 9:30 and then we would not have had to go out in rain. I'm not a wuss, I run in rain all the time. But an earlier start time is normal for running races and honestly, we ladies were ready to run by 8-8:30.

Wanderlust 108 - similar to LLL, another example of a yoga outfit claiming to be mindful but demonstrating absolutely no sense. Someone in the FB page said it was amateur hour. Indeed! Now they have a PR nightmare on their hands.

Totally appreciate the fit review! I REEAALLY hope these come to Canada soon! I was wondering how they compared to the Inspires in terms of fit, and I'm generally between sizes, so thanks for clarifying!

That us a total bummer about the pace rival pockets! The pockets were the whole reason I was interested in them. I had them in my cart, but now I'm going to hold off. Does anyone know if Athleta, Nike, or UA makes a running crop with a good thigh pocket? Why lulu can't just make a summer speed crop is beyond me. They already have the design. All they have to do is shorten it to in the flow length and add a little opaque mesh ventilation behind the knee...

@ anon 11:22 am - Good point about the stretching. I did try getting my phone in the pocket when I tried them on, it was still a snug fit and I had to work the phone in and out of the pocket. Since my phone case is such a pain to take on and off I was really hoping for roomy Speed Tight-style pockets.

Thanks for the thorough review and comparison. I love my Inspire crops but plan to try the WAFS Pace Rivals out when they upload. Glad to see that Circle Mesh is back in the mix--it is so much nicer than the micro diamond mesh. I'm surprised that they made the thigh pockets so small when cell phones are trending up in size. Another typical lululemon designer oversight.

@Kathy - interesting point about the bonded pocket being uncomfortable. I've run across that before in other run crops when bonded seams were used across the thigh and I could totally feel them cutting into me. I couldn't feel the pockets/bonding at all in the Pace Rival, though I did choose the stretchiest pair of the three.

@ anon 12:25 pm - I'm tending to think the pocket was made snug so your phone would stay put and maybe not move around as you run. I'm pretty sure it was designed for people who don't put cases on their phones but I am a Paranoid Patty and like to protect my phone and its resale value by casing it in a fairly durable case. I definitely think it could be made a touch wide and deeper, particularly to accommodate the 6+ size phones. One reason I love the RunDay crops is that they have such a large back zip pocket.

Thanks for the update! I think I'll try them on next time I'm in a store, but am not going to rush to order them. I'm all about utility when it comes to running crops and think I would get irritated if I can't slide the phone (w/ case) in and out easily while in motion. Although not a deal breaker, I also ideally prefer a shorter crop for running in the summer (since I really don't wear shorts). But, I haven't given up hope and am still willing to give them a try. Maybe they'll do a second release with a larger pocket. Let us know how it goes if you run in them. Happy miles everyone! - anon 12:12

I love the new striped palm print! Can't wait to see what else comes out in this!

Also quick question for you about the fit of your brushed animal Inspires --- are they like other Inspires you've tried or tighter? I just purchased Iridescent Multi and noticed they were considerably tighter than my other Inspire crops. I wanted to pick up the brushed animal print, but wasn't sure what to expect! Thanks!

i bought the wee space pace rival crops today. My iPhone 6 with incipio card carrying case fit into the pocket just fine. The size of the pockets is about the same size as last fall's rebel runner crop i think.

I got the black pace rivals online and I'm going to exchange for a smaller size. I wear a 6 in wunder under/top speed crops and a 4 in seamless styles. Got a 6 in the pace rivals and although they fit I felt they had too little compression for my taste. I also sized down in the inspire crops, so for me this is consistent. As for the pockets, I have an iphone 6+ and it's so big I never expect a pocket to adequately restrain it. I just use a running belt and leave the pockets for decoration ;-)

@Dovey - the Brushed Animal Inspires are made of full on luxtreme like the Iridescent Multi ones. That material is not as stretchy as regular luxtreme so feels tighter on. I would say the fit on the Brushed Animal is the same as the Iridescent Multi ones.

I tried the Pace Rival crops on in the store in my regular size 4 and I was able to fit my Galaxy S5 with a Lifeproof case in the pocket while I had them on. I did have to wiggle it in there, but it fit ok. As a side note, I'm 5'1 and I found them to be too long on me and loose at the bottom, but no one in the store knew if they could be hemmed. Unfortunately, they didn't have my size in the WAFS Grapfruit color :( Does anyone know why these are in US stores but not the website?! When will they be uploaded?

I agree about the summer speed crops with mesh...I love my Run A Marathon crops from last summer - they are PERFECT!!

About Me

For 18 years I was an electrical engineer working in communications satellite system engineering. I've worked at Boeing, Booz, Allen & Hamilton, and General Electric. For the past ten years I've been a stay at home mom who keeps busy volunteering in my community and chauffeuring my three children to their activities. I live in Orange County, California.

The inaugural Sea Wheeze inspired me to take up running two years ago. I have completed ten half marathons and have three more scheduled for 2015. I mostly run these days but also go to the gym ~3-4 days a week for spin class, weight lifting, and cardio.

I discovered Lululemon six years ago and really liked the fit and performance of the clothes. I do check out other brands so if you would like me to review your product please contact me.

If you would like to contact me, my email address is lululemonaddict@gmail.com.